A RED hot day of learning and fun

TRACI ANDERSON

Published 12:56 pm, Monday, April 25, 2016

The seventh annual Project RED brought more than 750 area third graders to the Huron County fairgrounds Tuesday for a variety of fun and educational experiences. The event, hosted by the Huron County Farm Bureau Promotion and Education Committee, started with a presentation on four wheeler safety by the Laker FFA. From there, students from 22 local schools, including parochial and rural schools, and home schooled children gathered into groups and started on their adventure.

They traveled to eight different stations, learning about such things as dairy, soils, crops, natural resources, horseshoes, lawn mower safety, farm safety, and more. At one of the stations hosted by the Soil Conservation District, the students made Earth bracelets with colorful beads that each stood for something related to Earth. The students also tried different types of foods, including a tasty sweet treat that included navy beans.

The goal of the event is to plant the seed of agricultural knowledge into area youngsters so they have a better appreciation of the area in which they live and of the food they eat each day.

Project RED is the result of many organizations coming together to invest in children's education and to assist Huron County Farm Bureau. Some of these organizations include MSU Extension, Thumb Equine, Cooperative Elevator, Soil Conservation District, Huron County Sheriff's Office, Huron County Dairy Promotions, Diplomats, and the Michigan Milk Producers Association, county FFA groups and 4-H organizations, and Farm Bureau members, insurance agents, and community action groups. Numerous businesses throughout the county donated items for a commodity goodie bag for each student to take home with items such as soy nuts, baked beans, cheese and crackers, granola bars, coloring books, and more. Businesses also donated goodies such as cotton candy, milk, ice cream, and popcorn for the children to enjoy on site.